Revised - Yukon MP-designate Brendan Hanley never looked back Monday night as he comfortably secured the Liberal seat for Yukon in the House of Commons.

From the very first poll results, Hanley led the four other candidates in votes.

By the end of the night, he’d amassed 5,779 votes, comfortably ahead of second-placer Barbara Dunlop, the Conservative candidate who finished the night with 4,250 votes.

As of this morning, after Tuesday’s counting of more than 2,000 additional mail-in ballots, Hanley had 6,427 votes, and Dunlop 5,073.

This morning, NDP candidate Lisa Vollans-Leduc had 4,311 votes, while independent Jonas Smith had 2,627 votes.

Green Party candidate Lenore Morris had drawn 912 votes as of this morning. An estimated 200 Yukon ballots remain to be counted in Ottawa.

Hanley’s victory was a far cry from the 2019 results when retiring Liberal MP Larry Bagnell defeated then-Conservative candidate Smith by just 153 votes.

But late into the evening, Yukon Liberal Party vice-president Mike Pemberton announced at 10:06 to the Liberal gathering at the MacBride Museum that the local Conservative Party had conceded Hanley’s victory.

Applause and cheers erupted from the 50 or so Liberal supporters, who included several Yukon Liberal MLAs.

“My surprise continues, but it looks like we have done it,” Hanley told the crowd to kick off his acceptance speech.

“This is a win for the Liberal Party of Canada, it’s a win for our children. It’s a win for housing affordability. The federal Liberal plan is the best for Canadians.”

Hanley said the campaign made him appreciate just how much there was to an election, and to an election campaign.

He thanked his Liberal team, particularly Moira Lassen, his campaign manager, and what he described as her tireless effort over the last 36 days.

“I don’t think I have ever been managed so closely,” he said, sparking a round of laughter from the party faithful.

He thanked the Liberals for their mentorship and support throughout the campaign, and noted the efforts of both Clarence Timmons, the Yukon Liberal Party president, and Pemberton, who served as the MC for the evening.

Hanley paid tribute to his fellow candidates, and thanked them for the “valuable information” they passed on.

It will stay with him, he said.

“I am pleased our discussions (debates) were always fruitful and respectful, as is the Yukon way.”

Hanley thanked his volunteers who he said showed him what Yukoners were made of.

“Every one of you played a critical part in getting us to this point,” he said.

Volunteers for all parties – the door knockers, the sign builders, election poll scrutineers, staff who manned the phones – contribute so much and are essential to the campaigns of all candidates, he said.

Hanley said now it’s time for him to continue the Liberal push to address the issues facing the country, such as the housing crisis, climate change and child care.

In separate interviews throughout the night before the final results were in, both Lassen and Pemberton described Hanley as a kind and dedicated man.

Hanley is a humble, honourable and committed, said Lassen, noting she hadn’t met him until she began managing his campaign.

“He is the real deal,” she said. “He listens to people, and I think that is the biggest thing.

“He is a problem solver and he listens to people. I think that bodes well for a member of Parliament.”

Lassen said there were 60 volunteers working for the Liberals on election day, some 40 of whom volunteered throughout the campaign.

Bill Barrick, an 82-year-old Whitehorse resident, had knocked on some doors for Hanley, and was among the party supporters at the museum watching the results come in.

This is not the time to be switching governing parties, he said.

Barrick said the Liberals have made measurable strides in the variety of issues facing Canadians, including the all-important issue of health care,

He said he does not see the Conservatives stepping up with viable programming.

Everything they touch, whether it be in Canada or the U.S., seems to go awry, he said.

“I think for everybody’s health, I think it is important to have the Liberals in rather than the Conservatives.”

The Conservatives put the emphasis on economy and not the people, he said.

Barrick noted he plays in the All-City Band with Hanley, and he applauded the MP-designate’s ability to move so smoothly between business and the arts.

“I think it is important in the Yukon to have a direct link to knowledge and interest in the arts,” he said.

Bagnell was on hand all night, arriving to watch the national results as they began coming in, with the Liberals never surrendering the lead that was established beginning with the first results from the east coast.

The Liberal government has made many positive advances on key issues such as housing, the economy, climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gases, he said, suggesting Canadians have noticed and wanted to stay the course.

Bagnell said Canadians have seen the Liberals manage the pandemic, and they’ve seen the support for families and child care.

“I think any government who did not deal with them would not have the support of Canadians,” he said.

In an interview with reporters following his victory address, Hanley said he’ll be getting to work as soon as possible but will first have to meet with Premier Sandy Silver to tender his resignation as the chief medical officer of health.

“I am feeling pretty excited right now, really just energized and very pleased,” he told reporters.

Hanley arrived well after 10 p.m., once they had determined he would not surrender the lead, and once the Conservatives had conceded defeat.

He said he’d spent the evening watching the national results come in on TV, and playing with his dog.

But now, said Hanley, it’s time to settle in to his role representing Yukoners.

The issues are many, whether it’s the pandemic, climate change, acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine or the opioids crisis.

Not everybody agrees with the investment and steps required to battle the pandemic, he said.

Hanley said he wants to promote unity, as there is still division alive in the Yukon and across Canada.

The MP-designate said he was feeling positive, and was happy with the Liberal platform.

With his life experiences, including his profession as a health care provider, he said he feels he can contribute meaningful input into the national conversation about how best to move forward improving the lives of Canadians.

“My job now is for all Yukoners,” said Hanley. “I think we can accomplish a lot in the many years we have ahead of us.”